Ans: D

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: Prior to initiating a dispute in any court, any party involved in the dispute has the option to submit an application to the Permanent Lok Adalat for resolving the matter. After an application is made to the Permanent Lok Adalat, no party to that application shall invoke the jurisdiction of any court for the same dispute.

Statement 2 is correct: ‘Lok Adalat’, established by the government, settles disputes through conciliation and compromise. The First ‘Lok Adalat’ was held in Chennai in 1986. “Lok Adalat” handles cases that are eligible for settlement through conciliation and compromise and are currently pending in the regular courts within their jurisdiction.

Statement 3 is correct: Lok Adalat is a recognised alternative mechanism for resolving disputes. The Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987 has conferred statutory recognition upon Lok Adalats. According to this Act, the decisions made by Lok Adalats are considered equivalent to civil court decrees, and they are conclusive and binding on all parties involved. Furthermore, no legal recourse or appeal can be pursued in any court against such an award.

Ans: A

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Gram Nyayalaya shall not be bound by the rules of evidence provided in the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, but shall be guided by the principles of natural justice and subject to any rule made by the High Court. They have more flexibility in considering evidence and can adopt a more informal and accessible approach to adjudicate cases, which is often more suitable for rural and remote areas where legal resources may be limited. 

Statement 2 is correct: The Gram Nyayalayas Act of 2008 empowers state governments in India to establish Gram Nyayalayas, which are local or village-level courts designed to provide justice services in rural and remote areas. However, the Act mandates that it is for the state governments to establish Gram Nyayalayas in consultation with the respective high courts. This provision is designed to strike a balance between the autonomy of state governments in setting up these local courts and the need to maintain the integrity of the legal system.

Ans: A

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: One type of Lok Adalat is the Permanent Lok Adalat, organised under Section 22-B of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Permanent Lok Adalats have been set up as permanent bodies with a Chairman and two members for providing compulsory pre-litigative mechanism for conciliation and settlement of cases relating to Public Utility Services like transport, postal, telegraph, etc.

Statement 2 is correct: The Permanent Lok Adalat shall not have jurisdiction in respect of any matter relating to an offense not compoundable under any law. (A non-compoundable offenses is an offense for which the law does not allow for a compromise or settlement between the victim and the accused). The Permanent Lok Adalat’s jurisdiction is limited to civil disputes and specific types of cases that can be resolved through compromise and conciliation.

Statement 3 is incorrect:  The jurisdiction of the Permanent Lok Adalats is up to Rs. One crore. Even if the parties fail to reach a settlement, the Permanent Lok Adalat gets jurisdiction to decide the dispute, provided the dispute does not relate to any offense. Further, the award of the Permanent Lok Adalat is final and binding on all parties. If the parties fail to reach a settlement, the Permanent Lok Adalat has the jurisdiction to decide the case. The award of the Permanent Lok Adalat is final and binding upon the parties.

Ans: D

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: There is no court fee payable when a matter is filed in a Lok Adalat. If a matter pending in the court of law is referred to the Lok Adalat and is settled subsequently, the court fee originally paid in court on the complaints/petition is also refunded back to the parties. 

Statement 2 is correct: The persons deciding the cases in the Lok Adalats have the role of statutory conciliators only and do not have any judicial role; therefore, they can only persuade the parties to come to a conclusion for settling the dispute outside the court in the Lok Adalat and shall not pressurise or coerce any of the parties to compromise or settle cases or matters either directly or indirectly.  The Lok Adalat shall have no jurisdiction in respect of matters relating to divorce or matters relating to an offence not compoundable under any law.

Ans : D

Exp 

Statement 1 is incorrect: As per Article 323 A, the Parliament is empowered to provide for the

establishment of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), set up in 1985 with the principal bench at Delhi and additional benches in different states. Currently, it has 17 regular benches, 15 of which operate at the principal seats of high courts and the remaining two at Jaipur and Lucknow. These benches also hold circuit sittings at other seats on high courts.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The CAT exercises original jurisdiction in relation to recruitment and all service matters of public servants covered by it. Its jurisdiction extends to all-India services, the Central Civil Services, civil posts under the Centre, and civilian employees of defence services. However, the members of the defence forces, officers and servants of the Supreme Court, and the secretarial staff of the Parliament are not covered by it.